Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Ford India to expand distribution, service network

Chennai, Nov 26 (IANS)

Car manufacturer Ford India, the Indian subsidiary of US auto major Ford Motor Company, plans to increase its customer touch points (sales and service) to 500 by middle of the decade at a time when it plans to launch eight new models, said the company's incoming chief.

"The leader might change. But the business plan has not changed. Eight new products by the middle of this decade will be launched in India. We will increase the customer touch points (sales and service points) to 250 this year and to 500 touch points by middle of this decade," Joginder Singh, who will take over as president and managing director of Ford India Dec 1, told reporters here Monday.

He said the company will launch its sports utility vehicle (SUV) EcoSport next year, the new plant in Gujarat is on track to go on stream in 2014 and global suppliers of Ford Motor Company have committed investment in India.

Singh said Ford Motor Company expects 70 percent of the growth to come from Asia Pacific region during the next decade and much of that will be contributed by China and India.

He said profitable faster growth is his vision for the company as the total investment in India will touch USD 2 billion.

According to Singh, the India growth story is valid despite the changes in the policy conditions.

Looking back at his nearly five year tenure at Ford India, Michael Boneham, the outgoing president and managing director, said he had completed his agenda.

He said the company launched Figo model-a segment accounts for 70 percent of the total car market. The capacity of the Chennai plant was expanded and a new plant in Gujarat was decided.

Agreeing that Ford India is still not a volume player, Boneham said the company is creating capacity ahead of the market.